Two Paddocks, Central Otago

Two Paddocks
Central Otago, New Zealand

Website: www.twopaddocks.com

‘We are slightly quieter wines,’ says Sam Neill, proprietor of Two Paddocks. ‘Lots of Central Otago wines go “wow” – ours are kind of “come and get us”’ First Paddock and Last Chance are the two single vineyard wines here. Neill has recently purchased the 6 hectare Desert Heart vineyard in Bannockburn, so don’t be surprised if these wines speak just a little more loudly in the future.

Two Paddocks started life when Neill planted a few acres in Gibbston in 1993. First vintage was 1997, and it was good enough to encourage Neill to plant a bit more in 1998, bringing the vineyard up to 5 hectares. Subsequent expansion led to the addition of two vineyards in Alexandra: the 3 hectare Alex Paddock that makes the ‘Last Chance’, and a 60 hectare farm in the Earnscleugh Valley called Redbanks, which is now the centre of operations and has just under 6 hectares of vines.

The wines are made at the Central Otago Wine Company (in which Neill has an interest) by Dean Shaw. In the UK they are distributed by Negociants.

THE WINES

Two Paddocks Pinot Noir 2012 Central Otago, New Zealand
Fresh, vivid and pure with nice bright, elegant, supple red cherry fruits. Nice freshness and finesse with good acidity. A lighter style but it works well. 93/100 (02/14)

Two Paddocks Pinot Noir 2011 Central Otago, New Zealand
Supple, bright, fresh and cherryish with nice savoury herb and spice notes. Very fresh and bright with lovely precision. 93/100 (02/14)

Two Paddocks Pinot Noir 2010 Central Otago, New Zealand
Sweet, fresh and rounded with nice bright juicy fruit. Some spiciness. Ripe and expressive this is a supple, lighter-styled Pinot showing juicy cherry fruit. 93/100 (02/13)

Two Paddocks Pinot Noir 2008 Central Otago, New Zealand
Supple, smooth and fine. Lovely elegant cherry fruit, so fine and expressive, lovely weight. 94/100 (02/13)

Two Paddocks Last Chance Pinot Noir 2012 Central Otago, New Zealand
Some spicy chocolate/coffee oak notes on the nose. Fresh, textured palate with nice precision. Currently showing too much oak, but it has lovely texture and appealing mineral notes. If the oak settles down this could be special. 92/100 (02/14)

Two Paddocks First Paddock Pinot Noir 2010 Central Otago, New Zealand
Supple, fine and fresh with expressive fruit. Lovely taut cherry fruit here, precise, fresh and a bit mineral. Lovely stuff. 95/100 (02/13)

Two Paddocks Last Chance Pinot Noir 2010 Central Otago, New Zealand
Supple, smooth and ripe. Juicy with nice weight and lovely fruit. Very stylish Pinot with elegant cherry fruit and some spiciness. 95/100 (02/13)